Wasted Creativity in the GNU/Linux Distribution Diversity • Hacker News Board

Re: Wasted Creativity in the GNU/Linux Distribution Diversity

#21

Post by dansman805 » Tue, Feb 05, 2019, 10:42 PM UTC

gnuarch wrote: post #7

dansman805 wrote: post #5

On one hand, time and effort is wasted doing the same thing 100 times with slight differences rather than just working on the same thing. But on the other hand, in my opinion these differences are very important. For example, you listed that only a few desktop environments are necessary. While that may be true for the vast majority of Linux users, the more fringe desktop environments/window managers are great. For ex…

Good point, at least i3 or sway don't do their own distributions – afaik.

There is manjaro i3 edition, and if I recall correctly another more minor distro that does i3 by default, but for the most part it is user installed, yes.

Re: Wasted Creativity in the GNU/Linux Distribution Diversity

#22

Post by dugite-code » Tue, Feb 05, 2019, 10:48 PM UTC

mimixco wrote: post #18

I don't think the problem is too many options. This is one of the great benefits of the free market. The biggest problem with Linux distros, IMHO, is that nobody has really created a packaged install that's simple for users to get running. Ubuntu is ahead of the pack but there are still many issues... creating a USB boot stick, using Ubuntu under Windows, accessing your network with a VPN -- those a just a few I've e…

Am I alone in finding the linux install process much simpler than windows? At least windows vista and older were always a pain to install, debian, ubuntu, elementary and solus have all been dead simple to install. Heck even IpFire is so simple it hurts.

Sure you need to make a usb boot stick but there are so many graphical utilities to do just that I've never had to think much about it.

Re: Wasted Creativity in the GNU/Linux Distribution Diversity

#23

Post by flukus » Tue, Feb 05, 2019, 10:53 PM UTC

mimixco wrote: post #18

I don't think the problem is too many options. This is one of the great benefits of the free market. The biggest problem with Linux distros, IMHO, is that nobody has really created a packaged install that's simple for users to get running. Ubuntu is ahead of the pack but there are still many issues... creating a USB boot stick, using Ubuntu under Windows, accessing your network with a VPN -- those a just a few I've e…

> Until a Linux distro gets to the level of packaged, simple installation like users enjoy with Windows and Macs, the operating system won't take off on the desktop. And that's a real shame. We need open source software more than ever.

I haven't tried with Windows 10, but Linux installation has been as easy (often easier) as Windows for decades. If you keep it simple and take the whole disk they're about on par, if you want to do anything complicated like dual boot then windows won't even let you. Both have room for improvement on the partitioning UI's. We don't need another distro to solve it because it's a simple as it can get.

But most people don't install windows, it comes with the machine.

As for TFA, I wonder if their concerned about the amount of effort wasted with so many competing phone, laptop and car models.

Re: Wasted Creativity in the GNU/Linux Distribution Diversity

#24

Post by jcastro » Tue, Feb 05, 2019, 11:01 PM UTC

mimixco wrote: post #18

I don't think the problem is too many options. This is one of the great benefits of the free market. The biggest problem with Linux distros, IMHO, is that nobody has really created a packaged install that's simple for users to get running. Ubuntu is ahead of the pack but there are still many issues... creating a USB boot stick, using Ubuntu under Windows, accessing your network with a VPN -- those a just a few I've e…

> simple for users to get running.

This doesn't matter. Most users don't install operating systems, they just use what comes with their computer.

The real issue for most people is "Why would I use this"?

Re: Wasted Creativity in the GNU/Linux Distribution Diversity

#25

Post by mimixco » Tue, Feb 05, 2019, 11:10 PM UTC

jcastro wrote: post #24

mimixco wrote: post #18

I don't think the problem is too many options. This is one of the great benefits of the free market. The biggest problem with Linux distros, IMHO, is that nobody has really created a packaged install that's simple for users to get running. Ubuntu is ahead of the pack but there are still many issues... creating a USB boot stick, using Ubuntu under Windows, accessing your network with a VPN -- those a just a few I've e…

> simple for users to get running. This doesn't matter. Most users don't install operating systems, they just use what comes with their computer. The real issue for most people is "Why would I use this"?

That's a very good point.

Re: Wasted Creativity in the GNU/Linux Distribution Diversity

#26

Post by b0rsuk » Tue, Feb 05, 2019, 11:14 PM UTC

I think many people contribute to Linux because there are all these extra distros. People have different needs, and gather around a different itch to scratch. If there wasn't a distro focusing on Rasberry Pi, performance or security, they wouldn't be there.

It's like saying there should only be 10 programming languages. Vast majority of programming languages never takes off, and many are very niche. But you never know which are going to take off and when.

Re: Wasted Creativity in the GNU/Linux Distribution Diversity

#27

Post by jschwartzi » Tue, Feb 05, 2019, 11:20 PM UTC

dugite-code wrote: post #22

mimixco wrote: post #18

I don't think the problem is too many options. This is one of the great benefits of the free market. The biggest problem with Linux distros, IMHO, is that nobody has really created a packaged install that's simple for users to get running. Ubuntu is ahead of the pack but there are still many issues... creating a USB boot stick, using Ubuntu under Windows, accessing your network with a VPN -- those a just a few I've e…

Am I alone in finding the linux install process much simpler than windows? At least windows vista and older were always a pain to install, debian, ubuntu, elementary and solus have all been dead simple to install. Heck even IpFire is so simple it hurts. Sure you need to make a usb boot stick but there are so many graphical utilities to do just that I've never had to think much about it.

No, I have a much easier time installing Linux on a machine than I do Windows. I recently had to clean install Windows 10 on my laptop and it brought back a lot of painful memories of having to find all the drivers for my particular hardware, store them on a USB stick, and make sure to install them in the proper order with proper restarts in between installs.

In contrast installing Ubuntu just involves popping a USB stick into the same laptop and letting it run for a bit after answering some basic questions.

And don't get me started on how much productivity I've lost to Windows 10 quietly "updating" drivers and breaking my programs in the process.

Re: Wasted Creativity in the GNU/Linux Distribution Diversity

#28

Post by agumonkey » Tue, Feb 05, 2019, 11:39 PM UTC

gnuarch wrote: post #15

kgwxd wrote: post #13

There is 0 substance to that link. How did this hit the front page?

There's the rub. Many distributions hardly add any substance, yet the topic is so popular.

Because people wants to express themselves. Tweaking and repackaging feels like something for the young nerd or the tech saavy layman. It feels like making an OS and OSes are semi god for the computer crowd.

Re: Wasted Creativity in the GNU/Linux Distribution Diversity

#29

Post by agumonkey » Tue, Feb 05, 2019, 11:42 PM UTC

jlarocco wrote: post #16

Not this self-centered, ignorant complaint again. Even if this time really is 100% wasted, it's not your wasted time, so it's none of your business anyway. Open source devs don't owe your their time, and you're not entitled to tell them what to work on. But the time isn't wasted, in any case. If existing solutions met people's needs the alternatives wouldn't have been created. A huge project like a desktop manager or…

It's still a bit weird. Everybody wants to "contribute" but at some point there's so much noise and redundancy .. it's backward.

Note that I do understand we're all so different in context, understanding, drive, needs .. so bazaar will occur whether or not I like it.

I still believe we should have a tiny bit more integrative groups. Just a tad. No need to force people and resist their energy, but a bit of constructive interference.

Re: Wasted Creativity in the GNU/Linux Distribution Diversity

#30

Post by darkr » Tue, Feb 05, 2019, 11:45 PM UTC

¯\_(ツ)_/¯ People are free to do whatever the fuck they want with their time and creative energy.

Here’s to anyone who ever scratched an itch, created something and then gave away the fruits of their labour for free.

A thousand more distributions and desktop environments!